Speaking as a former grad student (MS ’08) and current OIT employee, I can say you’re right about roughly half the grad student body not caring about ND football. The thing is, half does, which is HUGE for just about any university.

You can probably count out a large chunk of the science, math and engineering departments, many of whom are internationals who couldn’t care less about collegiate sports.

It’s really tough for a single employee, though. It isn’t *possible* to buy season home tickets for a single employee. You HAVE to buy them in packs of two. Of course, that’s ND — if you’re an employee and you’re not married, you’re “weird.”

you’re probably a drunk cursor!

May I add that as a usher I have never been told by a supervisor to tell fans to not cheer as loud as they can or to sit down during game play.I hope they can hear the Irish fans all the way to LA.

I have a had time believing all these grad students stay away from the game based on cost $35 ticket. If most are watching the games from bars & homes, they are still probably that same amount money on beer, drinks, food, etc.

What do these people do for entertainment? Night out anywhere will cost $35.

You are completely wrong on the ushers. You must be in a section with YOUNG ushers, they’re fine. If you have an over 60 usher, your game experience is markedly different. In the last 5 years I’ve probably gone to at least 20 games, and I’ve been told to sit down and be quiet at least 8 times by ushers. And I was not cursing. I was cheering, making noise when our defense is on the field.
To be honest, the 60 and over ushers are responding to requests from the 60 and over fans.
If you are a fan and don’t like gameday atmosphere in a stadium, DONT GO. Quit ruining the experience for the rest of us, and quit ruining the atmosphere for OUR TEAM. Watch the game on TV. The quiet stadium takes away home field advantage and affects recruiting. And ushers, help us make them stay home. Let us cheer our brains out. You’re enabling them by telling us to sit and be quiet, not to mention making us all despise the color yellow.

Apologies – you’re right on the ND tickets ($35/game, 6 games), but that’s still significantly higher than most big FB programs and at least higher than all I could find (except Oregon – $36/game). Still think the AD should do something about that.

Where did your son get those numbers? I’d love to see stats on what percentage of the student body gets tickets – I’ve looked for them. My impression is that fewer than 50-60% of grad/pro. students get tickets and I know from experience a large number who don’t b/c of cost, but maybe we run in different crowds.

Notredamegrad–

Just spoke with my son (BS 2008, Ph.D 2013); can’t reach my daughter (BS 2012). Factoring in students studying abroad, in excess of 95% of ND’s undergrads get football tickets. Of the 4,900 grad/professional students, approximately 50-60% get tickets. Cost is a factor but general lack of interest (in football or ND) is a much bigger issue.

Beyond that, you need to update the math. It’s $210 for six tickets (50% of face value) or $35 per game.

Go Irish! Beat Trojans!